English Explanatory Dictionary

violence

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Extreme force.
  2. Physical action which causes destruction, harm, pain, or suffering.
  3. Widespread fighting.
  4. Injustice, wrong.
verb
  1. To subject to violence.

Pronunciation

/ˈvaɪ.(ə.)ləns/ en-us-violence.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Pvanp7-violence.wav /ˈvaɪ.(ə)ˌlɛns/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-violence.wav

Word forms

violence violences violencing violenced

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *wéyh₁s Proto-Italic *wīs Latin vīs Latin violēns Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin violentiabor. Old French violencebor. Middle English violence English violence Inherited from Middle English violence, borrowed from Old French violence, borrowed from Latin violentia, from violēns (“violent”) + -ia. See violent. Displaced native Old English stræc.

Antonyms

peace nonviolence

Related words

violent violate violation domestic violence reverse domestic violence

Derived words

choose violence do violence to I choose violence intimate partner violence male-pattern violence male pattern violence non-violence police violence pornoviolence self-violence sexual violence silence is violence spiritual violence ultraviolence violence-ridden
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